Selling a Private Jet in 2026 Averages 98 Days on Market as Supply Stays Tight, JETNET Data Show
Why It MattersThin inventory is holding prices well above 2019 levels while shrinking deal flow, so age and maintenance status, not asking price, now decide how fast a used jet sells.
What happened
Selling a pre-owned business jet in 2026 takes an average of 98 days on market, according to JETNET's mid-2026 Market Barometer. Jets up to five years old sell in about 54 days, while aircraft 26 years and older take around 128 days.
Supply remains tight. JETNET reports that 6.6% of the business jet fleet was for sale in the first half of 2026, down from 7.3% in 2025, and a second data source put the share at 6.5% at the end of June 2026 against a norm of roughly 8.1%. JETNET counted 1,115 whole-aircraft pre-owned jet transactions in H1 2026, down 10.8% year over year; large jets were the only class that grew (+3.8%), while medium jets fell 27.1%.
JETNET's trailing-12-month average asking prices to June 2026 were $3.21 million for small jets (-1.6%), $5.27 million for medium jets (-5.2%) and $12.63 million for large jets (-15.7%). Prices remain well above 2019 levels, especially for small and medium jets.
Silver Air, an FAA Part 135 operator founded in 2008, outlines a sale process for owners. Valuation relies on comparable sales from databases such as JETNET, AMSTAT, Aircraft Bluebook or VREF, adjusted for hours, cycles, inspection status, engine and APU program enrollment, avionics, damage history, and interior and paint condition. Owners are advised to prepare complete logbooks and records and to decide in advance what inspection discrepancy allowance they will accept.
How a sale is structured
Three remarketing routes are described: an exclusive broker, a sale to a dealer, or a direct or off-market sale. Sale proceeds should pass through a recognized aviation escrow agent.
After a letter of intent, a pre-purchase inspection is typically followed by acceptance, escrow funding and a bill of sale filed with the FAA. Airworthiness items are usually corrected at the seller's cost, and other findings become price adjustments.
Timing and holding costs
Holding costs such as hangar, insurance, crew and maintenance programs accrue each month, so an early modest price cut can beat prolonged carrying costs. Listing just after a major inspection supports price, and days on market rise sharply for jets older than 20 years.
An aircraft on a Part 135 certificate can usually keep flying charter while it is marketed. Tax treatment depends on the owner's structure and jurisdiction, and advice should be sought before signing the letter of intent.
Industry impact & what to watch
A used-jet market with 6.6% of the fleet listed, against a norm near 8.1%, behaves differently from a balanced one. Sellers hold pricing power on newer, well-documented aircraft, which clear in about 54 days, while older airframes take more than twice as long. Time on market is therefore driven by age and records quality as much as by the asking price.
The segment split matters too. Large jets grew 3.8% in transaction count while medium jets fell 27.1%, and average asking prices moved in opposite proportion: large jets down 15.7%, medium down 5.2%, small down 1.6%. Falling asking prices alongside tight supply suggest that fewer, more selective deals are setting the market rather than broad demand.
The next JETNET barometer will show whether the share of the fleet for sale moves back toward its longer-run norm, and whether the 98-day average holds as H2 transactions are counted.
